I am losing custody :(

Well...I got some bad news this weekend. As you know, I have been watching my sweet nephew, Luke, since the beginning of August. I have really become close to him since I see him so much and he is my nephew...he is like my own. But, Luke parents (my older sister Katie and my brother in law Dan) have decided not to move here to Gwinnett and to stay to raise their family in Oconee County. I totally think they need to do what they feel is best for their family - I would not want someone trying to talk me out of not doing what I wanted to do - but I am really going to miss the little goof ball. I know the kids will still be close and I will see him a lot - but since I keep him Monday, Wednesday, and Friday I have really bonded with him.

The deal in the beginning was that I would drive to pick up Luke at the Waffle House at Harbins - but that was understood to be just until they moved here. Now that they are not moving - it is just a lot of driving on both parts and we don't really think it is economical. So...this was kind of a weekend of mourning...but I know I will see Luke lots and he will still love me the same ;)

So...to sum it up...I am losing custody of Luke. I guess the parents reign over the aunt (for anyone who does not know me well - Katie and Dan are GREAT parents - and there was no custody battle - I am just being funny)

Ellie's 2 1/2! Grammas...and Monkey Joes with the Kepps

We are at it again...busy bees. I feel like I am going and going and going...like the energizer bunny!




Wednesday we went to Gramma's house. I had the best time! It was really nice outside so we got to pick Gramma's pears for her. I was up on the ladder and I would hand them down to mom and mom would put some on the ground for Ellie to pick up! She loved it and it kept her busy. Then she got to help Gramma make her famous (in our family) homemade bisquits! She had just made some Muscadine jelly so it was even better! I am craving them right now! YUM!




Friday after we picked up Ellie from school the whole fam (including Luke) met Morgan, Kaden, and Brilee at Monkey Joe's. We had so much fun. Since Tim was there I got to play a lot more than the first time. Tim and I tag teamed the babies and playing with Ellie. She was BEAT when we left! Her hair was wet she was so sweaty and her little cheeks were as red as they could be! After Monkey Joe's we came home for a much needed nap and then headed to Nana's to have dinner with them at the club - which we sat outside and was SO NICE!

The boys at Monkey Joe's

Saturday we got up early so daddy could make his tee time. Mom and I took all three kids to Bunten Road Park and walked 3 miles with 3 kids...wow...what a work out!! The last 1/2 mile I was carrying Cole and pushing Luke in the double stroller. It was a nice workout!!


Then there was Saturday night...that is all I am going to say about that :(

Happy 3 month birthday Cole!

Today is Cole's 3 month birthday! I cannot believe it! Time really flies by with you are not pregnant and hurting!! Cole is really starting to "perk" up even more. He plays and interacts now which is nice - he can be left alone while I do other things like clean, wash bottles, or anything else that needs to be done in this house! I look forward to the rest of Cole's birthdays whether they are months or years - I just hope they don't go too fast!

We had Ellie's friend Katie and her mom Jessie over for a play date - the girls had a blast! They played outside, ate (all day), played in Ellie's room, and play in the living room...they really get along good and it is nice to get to know Jessie and have an adult to talk to!! I think we are going to make it an every Tuesday event!!

Whew...that was a busy weekend!

Well...we survived the weekend. We had a packed Friday and Saturday. Friday we went to Frontera and then to the circus. Ellie enjoyed herself and was fun to watch her watch the circus. She would clap when everyone would clap and she danced a lot too! She says her favorite part was the L-Fants (elephants). I had not been to the circus in a long time and it was fun!!

Saturday we woke up and went to Monkey Joe's. What a FUN place! It is just as enjoyable for the adults as the kids. It is only $5 for kids 3 and under and parents are free! What a great way to pay for a nap... :). Ellie played hard with her friends Katie and Ava at Monkey Joe's!

We left Monkey Joe's about 11:30 and ran by the grocery (which was NOT a good experience for me!) Then Mom, Katie, Luke, and Aunt Phyllis came over. Here is Phyllis and Cole!I had a Southern Living party at my house and then as the party was ending the boys in the family came over for dinner and to watch the UGA game. I was pooped last night!

Here is Grammie and Aunt Ellen (Tim's aunt) and the kids...

This week we are going to Gramma's and having Katie over to play. So...we will have another fun week!

Ellie and her piggies!

Finally! Ellie let me do her hair in pigtails! It is not long enough for real big pig tails...but she sure did look cute! I took the approach of just doing it and then not mentioning it again. She did not think twice about them! Before I would make such a big deal about it and I think it made her embarrassed and she would take them out. This is how she went to school this morning...

A start to a busy weekend!

We have a really busy weekend ahead and the end of the week was a good start. We had two playdates and a trip to Toys R us! Morgan and her crew and April and her crew came over to play. Morgan as Kaden (2) and Brilee (1) and April has Ryleigh (1)...so it gave everyone a good opportunity to play with kids their age. Morgan played ring around the rosie with the kids and they LOVED it - who knew spinning around in a circle could make a kid so happy?!?

Kaden with Ellie in the choke hold!

Today I took the kids to Toys R Us too check it out. A new Babies R us/Toys R us (all in one) opened up right here at the mall. So I wanted to check it out (with out the other 5,000 people in Buford like I did the first time I went!) I already it in my head that I would let Ellie get something - really because I was in a pretty good mood and she has not gotten to go and pick out a toy to buy. Well...we looked...and looked...Cole was so good...and nothing...nothing! I asked her what she wanted and she told me she did not want anything!!! I was confused, sad, happy, worried all at the same time - I mean what normal kid does not want to get anything?!? (Especially Ellie who turns "I want things" into "I need things" So...we left! With NOTHING! I asked her on the way home why she did not want anything and she replies "I have to poop!" So...I think her having to poop totally took her mind away from toys...I guess it would me too :)


After Toys R Us our friends Jessie, Katie, and Taylor invited us down to play. Ellie and Katie played outside on the swing set and Cole and Taylor slept in our arms. Katie and Ellie are 3 months apart and Cole and Taylor are 1 month apart...so it works out nice.
Tomorrow Me, Katie, Nana, and Grammie are taking Ellie to the circus...I am hoping Ellie does not get scared...since Cookie Monster scared her at Elmo Live.
To top it all off...Saturday morning we have been invited to go to Monkey Joe's (a place full of "jump houses" as Ellie calls them! So...by Sunday Ellie will have had a HUGE weekend! Hopefully I survive!

This is my favorite pic of them...I can see Luke saying...Dude...soon you will get to have this thick stuff fed to you bite by bite...and Cole is saying...ooohhhh yeahhhhhhh!!

I got my camera back!

Ok, here are the pics from Elmo Live!

I took lots of pics today just hanging around the house this evening...Tim and I spending time with El while Cole sleepsMe and my kiddos!Doctor Ellie is making sure Cole's lungs are clear!Doctor Ellie again...Sweet...I think he tried to bite her - haha!He is saying here...Help...I cannot see!

I am healed! Ellie did this to Cole, by the way. When she put them on his head like this she looked at him and said "Co (Cole) you look like a wady (lady)"Sleepy but still cool...again...done by Ellie - not me!eally hurting him!

Elmo Live and the weekend

So, I left my camera at my mom's so you will have to check out my facebook page to see pics of Elmo Live, but we had FUN! Well...I had fun watching Ellie have fun. Elmo Live is not super appealing to the parents...but Ellie had a blast and that is all that mattered! Ellie was scared of Cookie Monster "a little bit" she said. But, she was covering her eyes and putting her head in my lap when he came around. We had really good seats - 3rd row from the stage on the floor so all the characters came down our aisle and stuff and I think Cookie Monster was just a little big and googly eyed for her! By the end of the show Katie (Ellie's friend) and her were dancing in the aisle. They were so cute! We came home with a t-shirt, elmo doll, and a elmo ballon. Speaking of the Elmo ballon. Whoever runs the marketing of this show is one smart cookie! During intermission - these vendors came down all of the aisles with about 100 of these Elmo balloons in their hands. Ellie LOVES balloons and of course saw them. It was her day so I said ok thinking how much can a balloon be...$3-$4? I wanted to get Katie one too so off I go...$16 later...I had 2 Elmo balloons. It was worth the money b/c the girls LOVED them...but come on...walk around with these balloons which some children were loosing their MIND over them - and then charge $8/balloon...smart people!

We went to mom's house Saturday to watch football. Dad got a new tailgate toss game (some people call it cornhole.) It is FUN! We played that and on the new swingset mom got in her backyard. I will upload those pics too when I get my camera back.

This is a funny pic off my phone. This is how Ellie rides now in her car seat...she lounges and watches her "moo-bies" (movies).

I am taking Ellie, Mom, Katie, and Grammie (Tim's mom) to the circus on Friday...that should be fun!!

It's been a long time

Things have been really busy. There just seems to be less and less time during the day! I used to think people just said that to be dramatic...but I wish there was more time during the day. Trying to keep kids, cook dinner, feed babies, get Ellie to and from school, entertain Ellie when she is here, get babies and Ellie naps, give baths, get kids in bed, clean up after Ellie, workout, play tennis, and maintain a small social life is hard to be trying to get in bed before 11 is HARD! I do not want to know what it will be like when they have sports, school, and their own social lives! YIKES!


We have a few milestones to call out! Luke rolled over this week! It is funny b/c he will roll over on his tummy and then get mad b/c he is there. He rolled over today during his nap and was feeding Cole and he was wimpering but I let him work it out and he slept on his belly for 2.5 hours! Yay Luke! Luke also eats rice/baby food mix now at my house - he is doing so GOOD!!

Cole rolls over too a lot - but it is from his belly to his back - so it is easier than what Luke is doing. But, then Cole gets mad like Luke when he is on his back. So, they are opposites! haha!

Our friends, April and Cary have a 1 year old, Ryleigh. She took her first steps this week! She will be all over the place now!! Joke's on April and Cary ;).

Ellie's big event for the week is Elmo Live! tomorrow. We are going with our friends Jessie and her daughter Katie. It will be fun! It will be Ellie's first "show." We are also going to the circus next week! I will take lots of pics of Ellie and Katie at the show tomorrow and post them ASAP.

Lastly, if anyone needs Halloween/Fall pics taken of the kiddos let me know. I would love to take them! http://www.jewelsphotography.net/

9-11

Today is Sept 11th - 7 years after the attacks on the world trade center. Do you remember what you were doing? I do! I was in bed and got a call from my mom saying dad was ok that the first building had been attacked but Dad was ok - since he was working in NY that day! I then reached for the remote and turned on the TV just in enough time to see the second plane hit the building. I sat there like it was a movie or something...still it does not seem real. I have seen ground zero twice now - but I could not imagine being there during the attacks. Dad was in NY that day but not close to the towers. Thanks goodness his building was uptown and not downtown (I think I have my downs and ups right, Dad?!?)

What were you doing during the attacks??

A forklift?!?!

Ok, so I go to check my home messages last night and there was a message from the fraud dept at Chase. They said they wanted to verify some purchases. That really scared me b/c I have not used my Chase card in a LONG time - like 2 years! So, I called them back and they asked me if I had made a $1200 purchase at Forklifts, Inc. Ummmmm.....NOOOO! So, I reported it fraud and now it is under investigation. The funny thing is - I have the card and the purchase was made in-store in Williamsport, PA. Weird?!?! I cannot figure this one out!

Today I took the GRE to get into Graduate school...it was NOT fun! Geometry really stinks! I am so glad it is over - now we just need to wait to hear from UGA!

Ellie and Cole are both doing well. Ellie is school 3 days a week now and loving it. Her friends are Brandon, Patrick, GiGi, Layla, and Stacey. She talks about them all the time!

I will post more pics later - just wanted to update the blog real quick!

Busy long weekend

This weekend was a fast weekend - It flew by! We went to mom's house to watch the UGA game (that we could not get). So, we watched the other football games. Ellie went to Grammie's Saturday - of course she went in the proper attire! The first pic is of Ellie calling the Dawgs....Gooooo DAWGS!!Ellie's friend Katie, from down the street, came over to play. Her and Ellie played really well! Here is a picture of Ellie putting the Ariel necklace on Katie...ah ah ahhhhh ah ah ahhhhh ah ah ah ah ah ah ahhhhhh......Sunday we went to a neighbors cookout here in the neighborhood...cookouts with friends have changed since we ALL have kids and some of us have 2! It was kid central - but we had so much fun!
I have to tell you about, what I now call - "Ellieisms" That means all the cute grown up phrases Ellie says...they are SO cute! Today she was outside with Tim playing and Tim came in and said Julie, you will never guess what Ellie said outside. I said What?!? He said she looked at him as serious as she can be and said "I be right back daddy...I go check my E-mail" Tim and I DIED laughing! If that is not a sign of the times I don't know what is!

New coupons

I thought I would share this with everyone...when I get coupons - I like to share (that is what we are trying to work with Ellie on right now...so mommy is doing it too).

$5.00 off $50.00 online at Target - code: TCTH5G8N

Linen's N Things - 20% off a single item (expires 12/08) - print lots!  http://lnt.imageg.net/graphics/coupon/LNT_01.01.08_welcome.pdf

Gymboree - 20% off TOTAL purchase! Http://www.legoland.com/NR/rdonlyres/36787886-54EB-4F09-A6E2-5646199AD590/0/LEGOLAND_gymboree.pdf

The Limited - $15 off $50.00 - http://f.chtah.com/i/5/1385098083/08welcome524.html

Shutterfly - 20% off prints - code: AF61-URK8

Shutterfly - 15% off of order - code: VS09-VISA

Shutterfly - $10 off of $30 - code: 30TRAVEL

I will post more once I receive them!  I will post about our busy weekend once I get back home...we are at Nana's for the day.